"I remember growing up, listening to my dad's tapes in the car -- Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, The Who... ," Roy, who has spent the last two off-seasons performing live in Nashville, Tenn., said. "I got my first guitar for Communion and started taking lessons from there."

Roy has hit the road with some original tracks like "Mr. Guitar Player" and "Family Ford" while paying tribute to previous country stars like his cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." (Photo courtesy of Chris Marksbury)

Roy has taken his act on the road. From humble beginnings as a performer in the School of Rock organization for young musicians, the Glen Rock senior has opened for mainstream performers Grand Funk Railroad, Dropkick Murphy's and Leslie West of Mountain, among others, while his youtube channel, Matt Roy Live, continues to thrive.

The past couple of years, Roy has been fine tuning his craft in Nashville at a joint called "Tootsie's," a popular Nashville haunt famous for launching the careers of country legends Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

"When I was 9 or 10, I started singing. I realized pretty quickly I couldn't keep playing the old stuff and I had to get a new, modern sound. One day, a buddy of mine, Kevin Doyle, played a Kenny Chesney CD for me," Roy said. "I tried a couple of songs and from then on all I've played is country.

"I've always been a believer in writing your own songs and at 15 or 16," Roy said, "I started writing my own music."

Roy's sound struck a chord and soon after he made his first trip to Nashville under the tutelage of manager John Taylor. Gigs at the Orchid Lounge at Tootsie's spilled over to several other venues in Music City. Performing in the shadows of The Grande Ole Opry has only added fuel the fire already burning inside Roy.

Roy has since linked up with producer David Taylor as well as Scott Siman, a leading county music executive and manager for Tim McGraw. He is signed with BMI, a performer's rights organization, and found a friend in Gilles Godard and Ole Publishing.

"One thing led to another and before long I was playing at a couple of other places downtown, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. everyday, always somewhere different. It's inspired me to write more."

Upon graduation at Glen Rock, Roy will enroll at school in the fall of 2014 in Nashville at Belmont University.

Quite comfortable on stage in front of a live audience, Roy is also proving at home on the ice.

Playing alongside senior Mike Buckel and freshman Jake Kinney on the team's top line, Roy has 55 points for Glen Rock (19-2). He has amassed 104 points in his three-year career, eclipsing the 100-point plateau in a two-goal, two assist performance in a 4-1 victory over Northern Highlands on Jan. 31.

Roy celebrates one of his two goals against Northern Highlands. (Photo courtesy of Charles Visconti)

Roy and Glen Rock will be looking to make a statement in the upcoming Big North Conference Silver Division tournament. Roy's hat trick led Glen Rock to a 5-2 triumph over St. Joseph of Montvale in last season's finale.

"Matt's personality has infected the team," Glen Rock coach Sergio Fernandez says. "He plays with the energy of a kid every shift. He's fun to watch not only in games, but in practice. He's so passionate about the sport -- he'll talk about its history, its present, the Olympics, gear, logos, arenas... a true puck-head."

Roy is a Boston Red Sox fan and has adopted the nickname "Oogie" based on former closer Ugueth Urbina.

"What I really appreciate about Matt is the respect he brings to his teammates, opponents, officials, to the sport," Fernandez said. "He brings a quiet intensity to the locker room and the bench. He's not a screamer or yeller, his actions speak louder. He's a very confident young man and you can see it not only on the ice, but when he performs live."

Locally, Roy can be found performing live at the Glen Rock Inn, the Allendale Bar and Grill and O'Malley's in Nyack, N.Y.